Supplemental apron for center extension table



G. N. KELLY 2,533,119

SUPPLEMENTAL APRON FOR CENTER EXTENSION TABLES Dec. 5, 1950 Filed Jan. 25, 1947 ATTo Rfyf Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED srA'rs stir wi Fl-CE I 'o'f Illinois Application January 25, menses-saint). 7 24.256

1 Claim.

The invention relates to improvements in table construction and more particularly, to an extension table including novel means integral with the apron thereof for closing the gap in the apron normally present when the table is extended.

Extension tables of the kind constructed of two like halves arranged for edgewise movement toward and away from each other to decrease or increase the surface area thereof usually have a depending apron surrounding the marginal edges thereof. The apron is divided into two sections, one coincident with each half and each section of the apron is intended to move with its related half. When such a table is extended as to receive a leaf or leaves between the separated halves, there is a gap present in the apron on each side of the table. It is one of the purposes of the present invention to provide means integral with the apron to bridge such gap so as to thereby enhance the appearance of the table when it is extended.

Another object is to provide an extension table of the kind having an apron depending therefrom with normally concealed means on one apron section to bridge the gaps between such sections when the table is extended.

Another object is to provide means for mounting a continuation of a section of the apron on an extension table in such manner as will prevent its becoming scratched or marred during movement from concealed to exposed positions.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same principle may be used, and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an extension table embodying features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional detail View of the apron taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the portion of the table illustrated in Fig. 2.

Extension tables of the kind shown in the accompanying drawing and suitably adapted to embody the features of the present invention consist of substantially like halves suitably connected together in the conventional manner, as by interconnected slide-rails (not shown), each include a tabletop half I l adapted for movement edgewise toward and away from each other so that when spaced apart, a leaf or leaves may be arranged between the opposed edges of the halves. When a table of this character is in its extended position, a gap, indicated at I2, is present between the opposed ends of complemental side portions [3 of an apron generally indicated at M, which depends downwardly from the tabletops along their marginal edges.

The table embodying the features of the present invention is provided with suitable means to bridge the gaps l2 so as to thereby enhance the general appearance of the table when it is extended fully or partially. To this end, one of the side portions it of the apron It on each side of the table is provided with an extension l5 Which may consist of an elongated strip of material, such as wood, of a width corresponding substantially to the width of the apron. The strip I5 is firmly secured as by means of screws I6 to the inside face of one apron portion 83, suitable spacers in the form of washers I? being disposed between the strip and the inside face of the apron so as to maintain the strips spaced slightly inwardly thereof. The other or free end of the strip l5, indicated at 58, extends into overlying relation with the inside face of the complemental apron section [3 and, because of the spacers or washers ll, the outside face of the strip is spaced from the inside face of the section l3 so that marring or scratching of the outside face of the strip l5 is avoided when the table is moved from closed to open position or vice versa.

Rubbing friction between the top edge of the strips and the bottom face of the tabletop is prevented by offsetting the top edge of said strips inwardly as at l 9 to thereby afford a, gap between said opposed surfaces. It should be quite evident at this time that when the table is moved from its closed position into an extended position the strips IE on each side thereof bridge the gaps l2 between the apron ends.

The general overall appearance of an extension table having the members l5 therein is further enhanced by suitably rounding the outside corners of the ends of the apron sections 93, as at 2|. By rounding said corners, any surface ornamentation, such as the parallel grooves 22, on the outside surface of the apron l4 may be con-- tinued as at 23 into the strips l5, said continuations merging gracefully with the grooves 22 due to the smooth, rounded corners 2 l Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed in the accompanying drawing and described in detail in the foregoing specification, it should be understood that the invention may embody a wide variety of modifications and be incorporated in the construction of tables fashioned other than the table illustrated without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

An extension table fashioned from complemental table tops having fixed depending aprons movable edgewise toward and away from each other, normally concealed supplemental rigid aprons spanning the spaces between the fixed aprons when the table is extended, means securing each supplemental apron at one end to the inside face of one of the fixed aprons, spacers between the secured end of each supplemental apron and the face of the fixed apron to which it is secured for holding the said supplemental REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 681,366 Fuller Aug. 27, 1901 1,017,062 Pfefierkorn Feb. 13, 1912 1,796,268 Richardson Mar. 10, 1931 

